Soulful Fathering
Published by Joanne on January 8, 2010One of the members at my adoption forums shared this with us a while back. I thought these these tips would be helpful to any parent (not just dads) who may be looking for a more respectful and gentle way of parenting.
Soulful Fathering
1. Listen to your heart when you are with your kids. Go with what feels right, not what your dad might have done or what you think fathers are supposed to do. You are the perfect match for your child. You can’t make a mistake when you follow your intuitive guidance.
2. Share your hobbies with your kids.
3. Select one day a month or year to spend one-on-one time with each child. Mark the dates in your calendar. Let your child decide what the day’s events will be and celebrate together!
4. Listen to your son or daughter. Playing catch is a wonderful time for listening.
5. Don’t forget the wonderful habit of note writing. Leave some unexpected words of encouragement in a book, under a pillow, via E-mail. If you travel, begin a postcard tradition. Send your child a postcard from each trip you take.
6. Learn something new with your children.
7. Is there a way you might make some chore a ritual your child looks forward to participating in with you? Maybe you wash the windows every spring and then have an annual water fight.
9. Share your goals with your kids. Let them know how you have achieved a dream and help them come up with an action plan to achieve their own goals.
10. Don’t forget the five “Ps” of fathering: Patience, Pure Love, Playfulness, Participation, Persistence.
11. Remember, no one on their death bed ever said they wished they’d spent more time at the office.
Tags: hobbies, Mindful Parenting, playfulness, words of encouragement